Things and Stuff

This past week, we celebrated the second birthday of the second son.  He's a pretty awesome little dude and I need to dedicate a post to him and his birthday festivities.  Suffice it to say, in the meantime, that I am sort of glad that he'll likely be the "baby boy" of this family forever.  He's the sassiest, sweetest, funniest, twinniest little Gemini boy ever and I'm happy he's mine.  As an example, his favorite phrase is "boke it (broke it)" - which is definitely usually the case - and tonight as I was laying him down to sleep, he kept alternately popping his head up to kiss me on the lips and reaching over and touching my face and cheek.  He's gonna melt hearts one day, I swear.  He already does mine.

Our firstborn - who loves the story of how he made me a mommy and his dad a daddy - is making strides of his own.  One day something (shaming, lecturing, threats, age-old marble racer bribes... who knows!?) clicked for him and he magically stopped pooping in his pants.  {Can I get a halle-freakin-lujah!????!}  I thought getting him to wipe his own bum might present the same challenge potty training had, and was stressed because he's due to go to summer camp in a few weeks' time! (yes, I totally used summer camp as a bribe also.)  So, I looked up some strategies, and we've worked on it together (including one cell phone pic of his naked, poop-smeared bum to show him what not to do).  There have been times, during M's first week back to work this week, that I couldn't drop everything and heed the clarion calls of "Mom!  I'm done on the toilet!  Mah-ohmmmmm!  I'm DONE on the TOILET!..... MOM!"  And so, he had to practice.  And I had to check him.  And he's done awesome!  He continues to amaze me every time he sets out to do something.  All this change has not been easy on him, though he puts on a brave (and stoic) face, but he really is the sweetest kid under that crunchy candy shell of his!

If you're looking for updates on our newest addition, I've started a private blog.  {Email me if you'd like to be included!}  We're not as aggressive (or consistent, I should say) with her at-home therapies as we should be.  She's getting stretched and moved daily, but not as often as we should.  But, even so, she's making some great progress.  She's been approved for the early intervention program, and will be seeing lots more specialists and therapists in the coming weeks.  She's begun serial casting of her left leg and foot and we're hoping to start on her right leg and knee very soon!  We're also hoping the hand specialist will start splinting her hands and wrists when he sees her for a consult in about a week.  She's a champion sleeper, a sweet little spirit, and one of the bravest little souls I've had the pleasure of mothering.

~Nichole